| It's hard to believe that there are people in today's | | | | introduced him to Computer Automated Engineering |
| workforce who don't know how to use a computer. In | | | | (CAE). I showed him how to drag electronic |
| today's society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to | | | | components from a library, use the mouse to draw |
| being functionally illiterate. Obviously no one reading this | | | | circuit paths, make the computer simulate the function |
| article is computer illiterate, but maybe you know | | | | of the circuit, and then make the computer layout a pc |
| someone who thinks they can avoid computers and | | | | board for the circuit.He was able to easily master |
| still be successful at work.Let me tell you a story | | | | complex technology because he now understood that |
| about a good friend of mine back when I worked at | | | | he wasn't stupid. Computers ARE complex. When he |
| Motorola. The company moved the manufacturing of | | | | needed help, he studied the help files or asked |
| automobile alternators offshore, resulting in his transfer | | | | someone for help. Eventually, his CAE skills became |
| to my department. Although he had about 20 years | | | | known and I lost him to another manager. "His last stop |
| with the company, this was to be his last stop before | | | | before being booted out the door?" I don't think so. |
| being booted out the door.He was assigned to me as | | | | There's no way Motorola is going to let this valuable |
| an Electronics Technician, and the first assignment that | | | | employee get away.Even though it's the programmers |
| I gave him was to lay out a small printed circuit (pc) | | | | fault that computers and software are too complex, |
| board. It was a tiny circuit for a tester, so computer | | | | that doesn't relieve you of all responsibility. You must |
| drafting was not required. He could just sketch it out | | | | make an effort. Like my friend at Motorola, you must |
| on paper. After several days, he came back to me | | | | study the help files or ask someone for help when you |
| explaining that he didn't have the technical ability to lay | | | | need it. Not only must you study the help files, but you |
| out a pc board.An Electronics Technician that couldn't | | | | must also be willing to "try things".Many people fear |
| lay out a simple pc board? Don't all Electronics | | | | that if they click on the wrong thing, the computer will |
| Technicians make little hobby circuits at home? At | | | | blow up and they will be blamed for it. A properly |
| least all the technicians I knew did.I explained that he | | | | designed software application prevents the user from |
| needed to draw outlines of the components and then | | | | making a fatal mistake, either by making it impossible, |
| use the schematic to draw lines between the | | | | or by providing a warning message. A properly |
| components connections. Then, maybe rearrange the | | | | designed application lets the user "back out of" or |
| components if that would result in fewer crossing | | | | reverse any action. One of the best ways to learn is |
| paths. I also explained something much more profound, | | | | to "try things". If the computer blow ups because you |
| how to deal with the complexity of technology.Many | | | | made a mistake, you're using improperly designed |
| people, when they come into contact with technology, | | | | software.When you're learning how to perform a |
| consider themselves too stupid to deal with it. | | | | function with a computer, if you expect you may need |
| Technology is only for geniuses and geeks. | | | | to perform that same function again, take notes. No |
| Sometimes technology is too complex, but it's not | | | | one will think you're stupid if you take notes. But if you |
| because people are stupid, it's because the technology | | | | keep asking over and over again how to perform the |
| is poorly designed.For example, take software, like a | | | | same function, they will think you're too stupid to take |
| graphics program, spreadsheet or database. Is the | | | | notes.When I worked at Motorola, I used a technique |
| intended user of the software a computer | | | | called "strokes" to make symbols appear and move |
| programmer, or an average person? These | | | | around the computer screen like magic. Some people |
| applications are intended for use by an average | | | | called me the "Electronic God". How did I get so good? |
| person. If an application is too complex for the average | | | | I tried things. I failed. I studied. I tried again. I understood |
| person, the application is at fault - not the user.Why | | | | that technology IS complex. So what?In today's |
| are most computers and software applications too | | | | society, being computer illiterate is equivalent to being |
| complex for the average person? Because they are | | | | functionally illiterate. Make the effort to study the help |
| designed by programmers who are under pressure to | | | | files and to "try things". Don't get discouraged or blame |
| get the product out the door. Does the application | | | | yourself if you don't succeed on the first try. The |
| have simple, easy-to-use help files? Software | | | | computer won't blow up if you make a mistake. You |
| developers consider help files even less important than | | | | can't be successful at work if you fail to embrace |
| application usability.- The bottom line is, people are not | | | | computers and technology.Copyright(C) 2004 Bucaro |
| stupid - computers and software applications ARE too | | | | TecHelp.Permission is granted for the below article to |
| complex.In today's world, where workers are required | | | | forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, |
| to use computers and technology, how can they deal | | | | website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for |
| with the complexity? Back to the story about my | | | | sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, |
| friend at Motorola.After receiving my instructions, he | | | | copyright, and the resource box below is included. |
| successfully completed the pc board layout. I then | | | | |